A charity has issued a desperate plea for waterproof clothing, anoraks and sleeping bags after a big rise in homeless seeking shelter from the torrential rain.

Sifa Fireside said around 20 extra homeless people are turning up to their Digbeth-based centre every day, wet through and vulnerable to hypothermia.

The charity said the usual places where homeless people seek shelter like under canal bridges, derelict properties and the city centre streets have been affected by the flash flooding, so they have to keep moving in the pouring rain.

Sifa Fireside’s chief executive, Cath Gilliver, said: “We are seeing high demand, most days we get 150 people in each day but we’ve seen a rise to 170 because of the weather.

“We are very grateful for the support that we already get from the public but it would be really helpful if people gave us anoraks, waterproofs and sleeping bags to help with the adverse conditions.

“Homeless people are feeling further demoralised because they are wet through. A man turned up at 7.30am, in light clothing and he was in his 50s.

“He was completely drenched through and he was feeling quite distressed, shivering and he could have got hypothermia.

“This weather has been extreme. There are various places where they sleep, sometimes under canal bridges and some people prefer to sleep in the city centre streets because they feel safer with people around but it’s difficult to protect yourself from the rain in this weather.

“These places have been flooded. It adds further pressure to them.”

SIFA Fireside workers offer daytime shelter, hot drinks and warm clothes to the homeless or otherwise socially excluded to improve their physical, social and mental wellbeing.

Anyone who wants to donate should log on to: http://www.sifafireside.co.uk/